Iron Man’s Rodtang Jitmuangnon has been booked next to defend his Muay Thai world title, and fans are less than impressed. Later this year at ONE 169 in Atlanta, USA, ONE Championship will pair the Muay Thai champion with Jacob Smith.

Fans laugh at Rodtang vs Jacob Smith fight

Born in Thailand, Rodtang has become a superstar for ONE Championship. The Muay Thai champion is popular on social media and has over 270 wins. Many of his recent fights have been questioned as being largely unworthy of facing a champion in Muay Thai. The Jacob Smith fight is another fight to add to that list and fans are unhappy.

Some of ‘The Iron Man’s’ recent opponents include lower-weight fighters like Edgar Tabares, Joseph Lasiri and Danial Williams, who are all winless debutants in ONE Jiduo Yibu, and a loss to Superlek Kiatmoo9. He is now paired with British-born Smith, who ‘The Iron Man’ defeated in a dominant fight years ago. In his most recent fight, Smith is coming off a loss and has only one win in ONE since signing with the organization three years ago. Fans have made their displeasure with this matchup clear to ONE.

MuayThaiJME said on Twitter:

“I honestly don’t know how to like Rodtang. He’s reached new lows that I never thought I could imagine. As much as I love Jacob, he got embarrassed by Rodtang last time, and he’s coming off a loss, and that loss was to the guy Rodtang just beat. Bad matchup once again, embarrassing.”

RISE fighter Jay Snoddon added:

“I love Jacob but this match literally makes no sense. Jacob gets centered by Rodtang, then loses to Denis Puric, who fought Rodtang and lost in Kickboxing. Now Jacob gets a title shot for some reason?!?”

CombatCr said:

“A truly pathetic slice of matchup, a fight that absolutely no one needs to see. Rodtang is a fighter who is not even worth paying attention to when there are so many better options in this type of fight (which we have already seen and don’t need to see again).”

Thesilverwolfgg added:

“Why? Rodtang easily beat Smith last time and Smith did nothing to win this one. Every title match in ATL is super lopsided. @ONEChampionship really thinks we’re stupid in the west.”

On Instagram, _thomasdonnelly said:

“He only wants easy fights Chatri should stop this casting nonsense”

The matchup between Rodtang and Jacob Smith is the co-main event of ONE 169, even though it is not a matchup that the fight community likes very much.